Ambient air pollution monitoring and health studies using low-cost Internet-of-things (IoT) monitor within KNUST Community

Benjamin Afotey1*, Christina Lovely-Quao1

1Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. Private Mail Bag, University Post Office, KNUST Kumasi, Ghana.

Emails: afotey_benjamin@hotmail.com;  clquao@gmail.com

Text Box: Abstract Urban environments with high industrialization are infested with hazardous chemicals and airborne pollutants. These pollutants CO, O3, SO2, NO2, and PM can have devastating effects on human health, causing both acute and chronic diseases such as respiratory infections, lung cancer, and heart disease. Air pollution monitoring is vital to warn citizens of the health risks associated with exposure to high concentrations of these criteria pollutants. This study designed a low-cost IoT monitor to measure concentration levels of criteria pollutants emitted from transportation sources within Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology environs. Three monitoring sites, KNUST Tech junction, Ayeduase gate junction and KNUST campus junction, were identified as the locations within the proximity of the university for the deployment of the monitor. Hourly and mean daily CO, NO2, O3 and SO2 concentrations at each of the three sites were measured for a week using the IoT monitor, when students were in school and when students were on vacation. The average daily CO, NO2 and O3 concentrations measured at the selected locations when school was in session and during vacation were presented on histogram. The mean weekly concentrations of CO, NO2 and O3 were also estimated as 13.2ppm, 0.277ppm and 0.106ppb respectively at KNUST Tech junction; 10.1ppm, 0.254ppm and 0.110ppb respectively at Ayeduase gate junction; and 8.0ppm, 0.415ppm and 0.100ppb respectively at the KNUST campus junction when school was in session. The results show that the concentrations of all the pollutants were higher and exceeded the EPA standards except for CO at KNUST Campus junction monitoring site. These high levels of emissions are an indication of a health concern for the students at the university and university authorities can device means of curbing it. *Corresponding Author: afotey_benjamin@hotmail.com

Received: April 16, 2023  Revised: July 08, 2023  Accepted: October 09, 2023

Keywords: IoT monitor; criteria pollutants; health impact; emission standards; KNUST campus junction.